[PRCo] Re: Assorted Photos Off The 'Net

Wed Nov 14 16:58:04 EST 2012

While riding PCC s on the last night of the East End routes in January, 1967, the trolley wheel came off the wireÂ while going around Â  two tight curves. I remember that after one of those de-wirements a pedestrian re-wired the pole for the motorman. Â  

Bob 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Dwight Long" <dwightlong at verizon.net> 
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 3:17:17 PM 
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Assorted Photos Off The 'Net 

Bob 

That would have been double end cars then on Rt. 5. 

The fot I commented on was a PCC! 

Dwight 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Rathke" <bobrathke at comcast.net> 
To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 1:44 PM 
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Assorted Photos Off The 'Net 

> 
> A friend from Pittsburgh told meÃ‚ that i n the 1930's and early 40's Ã‚ he 
> and his young friends on Spring Hill often helped the motormen Ã‚ on 
> single-end cars on Route 5 .Ã‚ The hung around the end of track on Rhine 
> St., and when an outbound trolley stopped there, they would lower and 
> raise the trolley poles for the motormen.Ã‚ Their reward was free rides. 
> 
> 
> 
> Bob 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> 
> 
> From: "Dwight Long" <dwightlong at verizon.net> 
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
> Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:36:40 AM 
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Assorted Photos Off The 'Net 
> 
> Phil 
> 
> Interesting selection. Ã‚ I took a few pix of the demolition of the WPT 
> building in 1954, but this selection is much more comprehensive. Ã‚ I 
> wonder what the folks that have congregated by the river are there 
> forÃ¢?"or discussing! 
> 
> In the PRC shots, did you note that someone, who does not appear to be a 
> PRC employee, is handling the trolley rope on the shot of 1507 in Oakland? 
> Ã‚ Wonder what that was about! And 1666 seems to have had a bit of a 
> mishapÃ¢?"perhaps that truck hit it? 
> 
> Thanks for forwarding. 
> 
> Dwight 
> 
> From: Phillip Clark Campbell 
> Sent: Wednesday, 14 November, 2012 09:34 
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Assorted Photos Off The 'Net 
> I second your choice, Mr.Long!Ãƒ, Ã‚ Both of those buildings are classic 
> aren't they.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Here is a decent shot of the Wabash from one angle: 
> <http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=ic_all;op2=And;rgn2=ic_all;xc=1;g=imls;sort=dc_da;q1=wabash;size=20;c=hpicasc;c=hpicchatham;c=hpiccma;c=hpichswp;c=hpicmonroeville;c=hpicnpl;c=hpicoakmont;c=hpicphlf;c=hpicpitcairn;c=hpicpointpark;c=hpicusc;back=back1352902480;subview=detail;resnum=82;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;cc=hpichswp;entryid=x-msp285.b003.f02.i01;viewid=ACCD0180.TIF> 
> 
> More of the Wabash are here but mostly demolition: 
> <http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=ic_all;op2=And;rgn2=ic_all;type=boolean;xc=1;g=imls;sort=dc_da;view=thumbnail;c=hpicasc;c=hpicchatham;c=hpiccma;c=hpichswp;c=hpicmonroeville;c=hpicnpl;c=hpicoakmont;c=hpicphlf;c=hpicpitcairn;c=hpicpointpark;c=hpicusc;start=81;q1=wabash;back=back1352902470;size=20> 
> 
> It seems all these photos have made the rounds before doesn't it; 
> the university site is home to many.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Here are some of the 
> Diamond Market: 
> <http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=ic_all;op2=And;rgn2=ic_all;type=boolean;xc=1;g=imls;sort=dc_da;view=thumbnail;c=hpicasc;c=hpicchatham;c=hpiccma;c=hpichswp;c=hpicmonroeville;c=hpicnpl;c=hpicoakmont;c=hpicphlf;c=hpicpitcairn;c=hpicpointpark;c=hpicusc;q1=Diamond;q2=Market;back=back1352902981;size=20;start=1> 
> Streetcars are latter day additions to much of Diamond aren't 
> they.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Tracks turned to and from Grant initially; I believe it was in 
> the 1920s when tracks were first extended across Grant, Smithfield, 
> and Wood to the Market.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Tracks are not in evidence in 1921 when 
> the Market was built are they.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Diamond looks rather pristine in 
> 1928 with tracks. 
> 
> Here are a couple more collections of trolleys and streetcars.Ãƒ, Ã‚ It 
> seems that many other photos are available but not labeled for 
> these categories nor for Pittsburgy Railways Company.Ãƒ, Ã‚ I am 
> always finding photos with streetcars that do not fit these 
> collections: 
> <http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=ic_all;op2=And;rgn2=ic_all;type=boolean;xc=1;g=imls;sort=dc_da;view=thumbnail;c=hpicasc;c=hpicchatham;c=hpiccma;c=hpichswp;c=hpicmonroeville;c=hpicnpl;c=hpicoakmont;c=hpicphlf;c=hpicpitcairn;c=hpicpointpark;c=hpicusc;start=281;q1=trolley;back=back1352902275;size=20> 
> 
> <http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=ic_all;op2=And;rgn2=ic_all;type=boolean;xc=1;g=imls;sort=dc_da;view=thumbnail;c=hpicasc;c=hpicchatham;c=hpiccma;c=hpichswp;c=hpicmonroeville;c=hpicnpl;c=hpicoakmont;c=hpicphlf;c=hpicpitcairn;c=hpicpointpark;c=hpicusc;start=61;q1=streetcar;back=back1352902198;size=20> 
> 
> <http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?sid=46017d0da922f44c8f50880157b2c73f;rgn1=ic_all;type=boolean;xc=1;g=imls;view=thumbnail;c=hpicasc;c=hpicchatham;c=hpiccma;c=hpichswp;c=hpicmonroeville;c=hpicnpl;c=hpicoakmont;c=hpicphlf;c=hpicpitcairn;c=hpicpointpark;c=hpicusc;start=181;q1=Pittsburgh%20Railways;back=back1352902064;size=20> 
> 
> A repeat of photos in the collections are common. 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Phil 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>>________________________________ 
>> From: Dwight Long <dwightlong at verizon.net> 
>>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org 
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 5:59 PM 
>>Subject: [PRCo] Re: Assorted Photos Off The 'Net 
>> 
>> 
>>Fred 
>> 
>>Yes, that is an interesting old fot but I think that the one which shows 
>>both the Diamond Market and the Wabash Terminal is the gem of the bunch as 
>>it shows the two Pgh icons.Ãƒ, Ã‚ The time frame when this could be done is 
>>very 
>>narrow--from 1949 through late 1953 or perhaps early 1954, as it was in 
>>the 
>>latter year that the Terminal was razed.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Might be able to zero in on 
>>the 
>>year by looking closely at autos, but I did not take the time to do that. 
>> 
>>Dwight 
>> 
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: "Fred Schneider" <fwschneider at comcast.net> 
>>To: <pittsburgh-railways at dementix.org> 
>>Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2012 4:13 PM 
>>Subject: [PRCo] Re: Assorted Photos Off The 'Net 
>> 
>> 
>>> The real gem is the first one ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢,Â¬Ã‚Â¦ the picture of the rear of the 
>>> 4000 
>>> (Brill 1909) on one of the Highland Park lines probably around 1920.Ãƒ, Ã‚ 
>>> I 
>>> printed it but I still cannot read the street name behind the tree above 
>>> the man.Ãƒ, Ã‚ I drove my Google-Mobile over all the logical streets and I 
>>> cannot locate those buildings ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢,Â¬Ã‚Â¦ i.e. Highland, Negley, Centre, 
>>> lower 
>>> Fifth, lower Forbes.Ãƒ, Ã‚ I know the caption reads 5th Avenue but South 
>>> Highland ran via Forbes so my first instinct was to try all sorts of 
>>> combinations.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Nothing works today because too many buildings have 
>>> been 
>>> torn down.Ãƒ, Ã‚ I would relish having a 110 year old geezer tell me, "I 
>>> know 
>>> where it is ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢,Â¬Ã‚Â¦ I lived there."Ãƒ, Ã‚ Unfortunately a lot of the heart 
>>> of East 
>>> Liberty was been demolished by Urban Ruinall.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Lower Forbes was wiped 
>>> out 
>>> by the Crosstown Expressway and the Boulevard of the Allies.Ãƒ, Ã‚ Many of 
>>> the 
>>> homes on very lower Herron Hill disappeared in the Civic Arena project. 
>>> Since then the next mile has had many of the old homes r! 
>>> eplaced by newer ones.Ãƒ, Ã‚ And farther out Centre more than half the 
>>> buildings simply disappeared ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢,Â¬Ã‚Â¦looks like Euclid Avenue in 
>>> Cleveland.Ãƒ, Ã‚ The 
>>> hill does feel right for lower Forbes or lower 5th, however; it's just 
>>> that the buildings are there today. 
>>> 
>>> And guys, how would you like to carry that suitcaseÃƒ, Ã‚ (sitting on the 
>>> curb) 
>>> filled with glass plate holders when you go out to take pictures?Ãƒ, Ã‚ 
>>> And 
>>> the tripod? And a 4x5 or 8x10 view camera and several lenses and 
>>> lensboards?Ãƒ, Ã‚ A dozen years ago I bought a 4x5 view camera and then 
>>> built 
>>> a wooden case to hold it and all the trappings ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢,Â¬Ã‚Â¦ weighs a ton.Ãƒ, Ã‚ 
>>> I think 
>>> by the time I was done it had cost me close to $100 for every picture I 
>>> took before I gave up the experiment.Ãƒ, Ã‚ My wife is using the case as a 
>>> table to hold a lamp in the back bedroom.Ãƒ, Ã‚ And if I wanted to use it, 
>>> where the hell would I get fil-em today?Ãƒ, Ã‚ Kodak quit making all the 
>>> good 
>>> stuff like TriX and SuperpanchroPress B and PlusX. 
>>> 
>>> The second one is the Brookline loop. 
>>> 
>>> The third would be Tunnel Yard during the Deiselheimer Era.Ãƒ, Ã‚ For 
>>> those who 
>>> don't know that moniker, there were a number of Electric Railroaders 
>>> Association members who applied it to Harold G because he worked for a 
>>> bus 
>>> company. 
>>> 
>>> The fourth looks up Diamond Alley from Liberty.Ãƒ, Ã‚ You don't get it?Ãƒ, 
>>> Ã‚ Well 
>>> they changed the name from Diamond Alley to Diamond St. to Forbes Avenue 
>>> but the city fathers never actually widened that street.Ãƒ, Ã‚ The 
>>> building on 
>>> the right with the Corinthian Columns is the Wabash Terminal. Judging by 
>>> the automobiles and the presence of a 1700, its after the fire that 
>>> destroyed the trainshed and before the redevelopment in the Point. 
>>> 
>>> And the last one was taken when route 56 was the only carline left in 
>>> McKeesport.Ãƒ, Ã‚ McKeesport was one of the worst hurt of the suburban 
>>> towns 
>>> first because the United Steel Workers employes got wages high enough to 
>>> get out of that smog infested valley and move to the suburbs and drive 
>>> to 
>>> work in their new cars, and then because those higher wages were more 
>>> than 
>>> foreign steel workers were paying, steel simply collapsed.Ãƒ, Ã‚ 
>>> McKeesport's 
>>> population peaked in1940at 55,355.Ãƒ, Ã‚ In 1930, with a cluster of West 
>>> Penn 
>>> and Pittsburgh Railways carlines, it had almost 55,000 people.Ãƒ, Ã‚ But 
>>> then 
>>> after the war people began to leave for the suburbs.Ãƒ, Ã‚ The 2010 census 
>>> showed only 17,731 left ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢,Â¬Ã‚Â¦ it had dropped 18% since 2000.Ãƒ, Ã‚ 
>>> Wikipedia has a 
>>> fairly decent description of the town and they actually included the 
>>> last 
>>> 160 years of population data in one of the most recent changes. 
>>> 
>>>Ãƒ, Ã‚ Ãƒ, Ã‚ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McKeesport,_Pennsylvania 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Nov 12, 2012, at 11:56 PM, Herb Brannon wrote: 
>>> 
>>>> If anyone has anything to add concerning location, photographer, etc., 
>>>> have 
>>>> at it. These I found during random searches of the Internet. I don't 
>>>> remember these being shown before on The List, however, they may have 
>>>> been. 
>>>> -- 
>>>> Herb Brannon 
>>>> In Cuyahoga Valley National Park 
>>>> 
>>>> http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/PRCoStreetcar5thAve.jpg 
>>>> 
>>>> http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/PRCoPCC1607.jpg 
>>>> 
>>>> http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/PRCoPCC%20Transitway.jpg 
>>>> 
>>>> http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/PRCoPCCDiamondMkt.jpg 
>>>> 
>>>> http://lists.dementix.org/files/pittsburgh-railways/PRCoPCCMcKeesport.jpg 
>> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 